Hand-held dispenser with automatic venting

Abstract

A hand-held dispenser for a flowable product, including a container having a neck portion at its top, and a cap body having a discharge opening and a base portion cooperable with the neck portion of the container to mount the cap body thereon. The base and neck portions have cooperable automatic pressure-relief valving structures which are responsive to increased gas pressure in the container, for venting a limited quantity of gas when the container is in its upright position, so as to prevent possible explosion of the container and spillage or splattering of its contents. In one form, there is a first annular sealing surface on one portion and a cooperable annular sealing surface on a companion portion which is engageable with the first surface when the cap body is fully seated on the neck portion. A projection on one of the portions is located adjacent the sealing surface thereof, and is engageable with the cooperable sealing surface on the other of the portions. The projection is capable of effecting a non-destructive deformation of at least one of the portions when the cap body is moved axially from the fully seated position on the neck portion. Under conditions of excess pressure, the seal between cap body and neck portion will automatically be momentarily broken or to permit venting and avoiding pressure build-up in the container. Following the venting, seal is automatically restored.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatically venting cap construction for a dispenser, comprising in combination: (a) a cap body having an annular sealing surface,   (b) a container having a discharge passage closeable by the cap body,   (c) said discharge passage having a cooperable annular sealing surface sealingly engageable with the sealing surface of the cap body,   (d) means defining a projection adjacent one of said surfaces and engageable with the other of said surfaces when the body is raised axially from its sealing position on the discharge passage, such that the projection separates the one sealing surface from the other and at least momentarily breaks the seal therebetween so as to vent gaseous components of the contents of the container when the latter is in an upright position.   
     
     
       2. An automatically venting cap construction for a dispenser, comprising in combination: (a) a cap body having an annular sealing surface,   (b) a container having a discharge passage closeable by the cap body,   (c) said discharge passage having a cooperable annular sealing surface sealingly engageable with the sealing surface of the cap body, and   (d) means defining a recess adjacent one of said sealing surfaces, adapted to underlie the other of said sealing surfaces only when the cap body is raised axially from its sealing position on the discharge passage, such that the said recess provides a by-pass passage around the said other sealing surface and at least monentarily breaks the seal therebetween so as to vent gaseous components of the contents of the container when the latter is in an upright position.   
     
     
       3. A hand-held dispenser for a flowable product, comprising in combination: (a) a container for said product, having a neck portion at its top,   (b) a cap body having a discharge opening, and having a base portion cooperable with the neck portion of the container to mount the cap body thereon,   (c) said base portion and neck portion having cooperable, automatic pressure-relief valving means responsive to increased gas pressure in the container, for venting a quantity of said gas when the container is in its upright position, and   (d) cooperable means on the container neck portion and cap body base portion, for enabling limited axial movement of the latter on the neck portion, said means also effecting a permanent retention of the base portion against complete removal from the said neck portion and providing for free passage of vented gas therebetween,   (e) said valving means comprising an annular sealing surface on one of said portions, and a cooperable annular sealing surface on the other of said portions, engageable with the sealing surface on said one portion when the cap body is fully seated on the container neck portion, and   (f) means defining a recess disposed in one of said portions adjacent the sealing surface thereof, said recess underlying the cooperable sealing surface on the other of said portions when the cap body is raised axially from the said fully seated position on the container neck portion, such that the seal between the said portions is broken, thereby enabling said venting to occur.   
     
     
       4. The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said cap body has a depending skirt adapted to telescopically fit into the opening of the container neck portion, said skirt having an outer surface, and said container neck portion having an inner surface, and having a lip,   (b) one of said annular sealing surfaces comprising a bead on the outer surface of the said skirt,   (c) the other of said annular sealing surfaces comprising a substantially cylindrical area on the inner surface of the container neck portion,   (d) said recess being disposed adjacent the lip of the container neck portion and located on the inner surface thereof, such that when the cap body is raised from the fully seated position on the container neck portion, the recess underlies the said bead and creates an opening constituting the vent for the container.   
     
     
       5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, and further including: (a) means defining three additional recesses in said one portion, said additional recesses being disposed adjacent the sealing surface thereof, said additonal recesses underlying the cooperable sealing surface on the other of said portions when the cap body is raised axially from the said fully seated position on the container neck portion.   
     
     
       6. A hand-held dispenser for a flowable product, comprising in combination: (a) a container for said product, having a neck portion at its top,   (b) a cap body having a discharge opening, and having a base portion cooperable with the neck portion of the container to mount the cap body thereon,   (c) said base portion and neck portion having cooperable, automatic pressure-relief valving means responsive to increased gas pressure in the container, for venting a quantity of said gas when the container is in its upright position,   (d) said valving means comprising an annular sealing surface on one of said portions, and a cooperable annular sealing surface on the other of said portions, engageable with the sealing surface on said one portion when the cap body is fully seated on the container neck portion, and   (e) a projection disposed on one of said portions adjacent the sealing surface thereof, said projection being engageable with the cooperable sealing surface on the other of said portions and effecting a deformation of at least one of said portions when the cap body is raised axially from the said fully seated position on the neck portion, such that the seal between said portions is broken, thereby enabling said venting to occur.   
     
     
       7. The invention as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said cap body has a depending skirt adapted to telescopically fit into the opening of the container neck portion, said skirt having an outer surface,   (b) one of said annular sealing surfaces comprising a substantially cylindrical area on the said outer surface of the said skirt,   (c) said container neck portion having an inner surface and the other of said annular sealing surfaces comprising a bead on the inner surface of the neck portion, sealingly engageable with said cylindrical area,   (d) said projection being located on the outer surface of the said skirt below the said one annular sealing surface, such that when the cap body is raised from the fully seated position on the container neck portion, the projection engages the said bead and deforms at least one of the sealing surfaces, thereby creating an opening constituting the vent for the container.   
     
     
       8. The invention as set forth in claim 7, and further including: (a) three additional projections on said one portion and disposed adjacent the sealing surface thereof, said additional projections being engageable with the cooperable sealing surface on the other of said portions and effecting a deformation of at least one of said portions when the cap body is raised axially from the said fully seated position on the neck portion.